I was a good boy who didn't do drugs until adulthood, and I have medical marijuana now. The feedback I've gotten from pretty much everyone who did drugs in the 90's and 00's vs today is the same as your experience. The "weed nerds" have spent decades in their labs and the state-by-state legalization has greatly accelerated their progress.

Even my pharmacist warned me when I first got my medical card "if this is your first time using medical marijuana it's a lot stronger than what is usually on the street, so watch out".

I'm from Western Canada and while our experience is very very far from the rest of NA's...(none of our shit came from Mexico) one thing that's definitely changed over the last few decades is the knowledge base of cannabis growers in general.

There are more cannabis specific products such as nutrient blends, pest, and environmental controls. Off the shelf products you can order online that used to be custom made or end you up on a list.

People understand pruning, topping, and branch lining. This becomes especially apparent when you compare amateur growers to intermediate and medical grade growers.

Than there's the genetics being improved through breeding. .

But the main thing I'm told is that a lot of weed in the USA came from outdoor grows in Mexico. Which outdoor can never, ever, compete with indoor.

I didn't know they'd been working on this shit like it's the cure for cancer

Always gotta tell myself “just a little puff or two from the vape, no more, or you’re going to think that you’re gonna die”

I smoked a little when it was illegal in my state but legal in others. I made brownies. I think the new weed is just “take a hit or two” or even “share a joint with 3-4 people” and it’s fine. I love that my vapes are $30 legally and just last for months. Such a cheap drug now.